Wisconsin FORT (Foundations of Reading) Practice Test

Which of the following best describes the concept of onset?

1. The ability to relate new words to known words

2. The initial part of a word (a consonant, consonant blend, or digraph) that precedes the vowel

3. A meaningful linguistic unit that cannot be divided into smaller meaningful elements

4. A strategy that shows readers and writers how to organize important information

The correct answer is: The initial part of a word (a consonant, consonant blend, or digraph) that precedes the vowel

The correct answer is B. In phonological awareness, the onset is the initial part of a word that comes before the vowel. It consists of either a consonant, consonant blend, or digraph. By recognizing onsets in words, students can break down and identify different parts of words, which helps with decoding and reading fluency. This understanding of onsets is crucial for developing strong phonemic awareness skills in early readers. Choices A, C, and D do not accurately describe the concept of onset. Choice A refers to the ability to relate new words to known words, which is not specifically related to the concept of onset. Choice C describes a morpheme, not an onset. Choice D refers to a strategy for organizing information, which is unrelated to the concept of onset in phonological awareness.